Done Deal: Arsenal complete important signing

Arsenal have activated a clause in Nacho Monreal’s contract to extend his current deal by a further year, according to reports, keeping him at the club until 2020.

ESPN report that their sources have informed them Arsenal have activated a clause in Monreal’s current deal to extend it to the end of next season. The 32-year-old’s contract was set to expire at the end of the year, and the club were in talks with the player over a long-term extension.

For the time being, however, those talks have been put on hold, with Arsenal choosing to activate their one-year option instead.

It makes sense, considering Arsenal don’t want to lose the player for free in the summer, but they also can’t currently rely on him physically. The left-back is constantly out with one injury or another, even if he has been putting in pretty good performances when he’s available.

Additionally, Sead Kolasinac is having a really good season, reducing Arsenal’s reliance on Monreal.

If Kolasinac was likely to leave this summer, Arsenal would want to have at least one of their left-backs tied down for the long term. Since it seems like that’s not an option, they can consider selling Monreal and bringing a new player in, or keeping the Spaniard as a backup for another year until his deal runs out.

Hopefully, Monreal will be back on the pitch fighting for his place as soon as possible.